Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Paltz, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Paltz, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,609 in New Paltz, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,846 in New Paltz, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,082 in New Paltz, NY, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 17% more than New Paltz, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and New Paltz, NY sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, New Paltz, NY by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$16.90 $16.90

22.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$102 $102

-1.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.02 $12.02

-1.33%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.81 $5.81

-4.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.30 $2.30

33.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.54 $1.54

61.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$7.06 $7.06

-1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.11 $7.11

14.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.26 $1.26

-17.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.19 $4.19

-6.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.69 $5.69

-4.75%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$6.71 $6.71

-33.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$13.88 $13.88

4.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$10.43 $10.43

45.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$19.99 $19.99

-3.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.71 $5.71

-5.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.69 $2.69

-37.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.19 $4.19

3.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.28 $4.28

5.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.12 $3.12

-17.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.57 $2.57

5.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.71 $2.71

-11.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.82 $2.82

-7.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$15.72 $15.72

-4.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.95 $14.95

-1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.86 $1.86

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.37 $4.37

-15.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.03 $2.03

25.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.02 $3.02

8.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.65 $1.65

-13.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$42.19 $42.19

-41.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.8K $31.8K

$23.7K $23.7K

33.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

5.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$183 $183

$217 $217

-15.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$61.8 $61.8

$53.8 $53.8

14.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$49.76 $49.76

30.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$48.92 $48.92

55.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$8.95 $8.95

64.80%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,056 $2,056

$1,764 $1,764

16.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$15.7K $15.7K

144.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$49.74 $49.74

28.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.36 $39.36

31.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$88.3 $88.3

10.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$96.1 $96.1

53.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,410 $1,410

66.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,363 $1,363

16.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,657 $2,657

77.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,205 $2,205

23.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,577 $2,577

54.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,039 $2,039

29.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$3,529 $3,529

33.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.74

-2.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for New Paltz, NY: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,410 in New Paltz, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL versus $102 in New Paltz, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $448 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs New Paltz, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $2,609 in New Paltz, NY – roughly 17% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,913 in New Paltz, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in New Paltz, NY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL and $102 in New Paltz, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in New Paltz, NY, where all-in costs run around $2,609, than in Chicago, IL at $3,051. In New Paltz, NY it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,609 in New Paltz, NY to $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with New Paltz, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.